After this many of his disciples turned back, and no longer walked with him. 67Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Will you also go away?” 68Then Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:66-68 LBW)

“After this” refers to sermon Jesus just finished. He said that “my flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed” (v-55). The events of this chapter had made it all too clear that following him meant something different from anything they had anticipated. Nothing is said to give us a clear idea of their views, but the probability is that they were interested in a messianic kingdom in line with the general expectation. Instead they found themselves invited to believe, to receive Christ, to eat his flesh and drink his blood, to enter into that eternal life which he proclaimed. It was too much for them. They rejected these words of life. They went back.

When people began to see what Jesus really stood for they did not like it. The preceding sections of this chapter have shown how first the multitude and then some of his disciples were repelled. Now comes the big test. What will the Twelve do? Here Peter becomes their spokesman in a magnificent declaration of allegiance and acceptance.

Sermons are what bring people to Christ and they are sometimes what cause separation. We shall be saved according to how we respond to messages preached in Church. Although there are other factors in determining whether someone will continue with Christ one is their response to the word.

A study by Servant magazine indicated that every week over 53,000 people leave the church and never return. These people are not only lost to the church, but possibly for eternity. The diligent shepherd in Luke 15 illustrates how concerned we need to be for those who are lost to the kingdom of God. How can a person just walk away from a Church? Was their soul really concerned about those around them?

There is a picture frame that contains a picture of my great-granddaughter with the words, “It’s all about me.” Unfortunately many Christians get this attitude. While it is the function of the Church to provide a place of welcome, friendship, and atmosphere of worship it is also necessary for those that attend to understand, “It’s all about Him.”

It does not surprise us in our text that Peter is the spokesman. He often appears in this role in the Gospels. He is impetuous, ready sometimes to jump to conclusions, and capable of incredible ineptitude (for example, his rebuke of Jesus, Matthew 16:22). But he is also capable of reaching astonishing heights. He does so now. “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.”(v-68) Sheep really have no other place to go. We are shepherded by the Great Shepherd that leads us beside still waters. He restores our soul. To whom could the Christian turn today that will have concern for their soul? The Lord Jesus Christ desires to lead us as sheep and keep us in the flock. It is to those that look to Him, the one who has the words of eternal life.

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Pastor of Calvary Apostolic Church in Georgetown, Kentucky. Former teacher at Stockton Bible College in Stockton, California where he taught Church History, Revelation, and Life Sciences. He taught in the public school system for 17 years where he taught life sciences at the college level for several years.